Carnival of Love: A bit messy, but oddly charming

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, if you enjoy watching people run around in circles and overacting in suits, you'll probably have a decent time. If you need a movie to actually make sense, or if you get annoyed by characters who make the worst possible decisions on purpose, stay away. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it’s mostly just people bumping into each other. 🤡

Hermann Thimig plays the lead with this weird, frantic energy. He’s supposed to be this big deal matinee idol, but he spends half the movie looking like he’s about to have a panic attack because some creditor is on his heels. It’s kind of funny watching him try to be suave while he’s clearly terrified.

The whole thing feels like a stage play that someone decided to film on a dare. The sets have that painted-on look, and the transitions are just abrupt cuts that don't really care about flow. It reminds me of the pacing in Oranges and Lemons where everything just feels a bit rushed and jittery.

The blonde in question? She’s there, mostly just to be the focal point of the chase. There isn't much depth to the romance, but then again, nobody is here for a deep dive into the human soul. It's just a comedy of errors where the 'errors' involve a lot of shouting and people hiding behind curtains.

Odd moments that stuck with me:

• Hans Moser shows up and steals every single scene he’s in just by being grumpy. It’s honestly the highlight.
• There is a moment where a character tries to hide in a spot that is clearly not hiding anything. I laughed out loud, but maybe I shouldn't have.
• The lighting in one of the parlor scenes makes everyone look like they have tiny, glowing heads. I don't know if that was intentional.

It’s not as gritty or weird as The Ordeal, which is probably for the best. Sometimes you just want to watch a guy scramble around a room trying to hide from a bill collector. It’s low stakes, high noise, and very goofy.

I don't think I'll ever watch it again, but I didn't hate the time I spent with it. It’s just one of those movies that exists, does its little dance, and then fades out. If you're bored on a Tuesday, sure, why not. Just don't expect it to change your life.